Russia has dismissed the recent accusations by Turkey that Moscow’s air raids in Syria are resulting in casualties among the country’s civilian population.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said on its website on Thursday that the allegations stem from Ankara’s campaign aimed at discrediting Moscow after it exposed the involvement of the Turkish government in the smuggling of Syrian oil by The Takfiri Daesh terrorist group.

“Ankara’s wish to unleash an anti-Russian campaign is regarded as an obvious reaction that followed shortly after our country exposed Turkey’s complicity in illegal activities in the north of Syria, including connivance with oil smuggling from the Islamic State (Daesh)-controlled fields and various assistance to extremist and terrorist groups,” the ministry said.

Moscow launched airstrikes against Daesh and other terrorist groups in Syria on September 30 upon a request from the Damascus government.

Recently, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu claimed that 600 civilians, including 150 children, have fallen victim to Russia’s strikes in Syria, adding Moscow’s actions have reinforced positions of Daesh.

Elsewhere, the Russian ministry described as “simply absurd” attempts made by Turkey to put Russia and a number of regional countries in the same league with Daesh.

The department further noted that Ankara’s “populist move will fail to distract the world public’s attention from Turkey’s destructive polices in Syria.”

Turkey has time and again been accused of being one of the main supporters of the militant groups operating in Syria, with reports saying that Ankara actively trains and arms the Takfiri militants there and facilitates their safe passage into the Arab state.

Earlier this month, Russia released photos showing columns of tanker trucks purportedly loading oil at Daesh-controlled installations in Syria and Iraq before entering neighboring Turkey.

The Russian ministry emphasized that the Turkish government’s oppression against the country’s Kurdish population is leading to major civilian casualties.

Turkey’s southeast has been the scene of clashes between Turkish forces and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants since a shaky ceasefire between Ankara and the PKK that had stood since 2013 collapsed following the Turkish military operation against the militant group.